1870.] A Contribution to Malayan Ornithology. 317 



there certainly are noticeable distinctions between each of the three 

 species. 



Microtarsus has the first primary very narrow and short, the 

 2nd of considerable length, the 4th largest and the two following 

 subequal to it ; the tail is rounded, the middle feathers the longest 

 and the rest slightly gradated ; the feathers on the rump are very 

 full and the lower tail coverts short ; the feet and toes are rather 

 strong. 



Brachypodius has the 1st primary very short, the 2nd again of 

 considerable length, the following gradated up to the fifth, which is 

 longest, and the others rapidly decrease in length ; the tail is round- 

 ed, the central feathers longest, the others gradually decreasing in 

 length, and the outermost are considerably shorter ; tail coverts long, 

 feet and toes feeble. «•» 



Ixidia has the 4th primary the longest, the 5th and 6th very 

 little shorter and equal, the tail squarish, the middle feathers being 

 shortest, and the outermost a trifle longer ; lower tail coverts 

 short, much in form resembling Pycnonotus, feet and toes feeble. 



Fam. ORIOLIDJE. 



65. Orioltjs xanthonotus, Horsfield. 



Ees. Java with fig. ; B 1 y t h in Cat., p. 215 ; PL Col. 214. 



Horsfield' s figure of the male is evidently taken from a 

 specimen not in fully developed plumage, for in this state of plu- 

 mage the black is quite pure and the yellow above much more 

 bright, the edgings of the primaries are very distinct and pure 

 white, while the secondaries and tertiaries are very faintly edged 

 with pure yellow. 



What Horsfield describes as the female is no doubt a 

 young bird, and probably a male ; it corresponds with B 1 y t h ' s 

 0. castanopterm* which is based upon a young bird from Malacca, 

 as recorded by Mr. B 1 y t h himself. 



The female in full plumage is almost uniformly dingy green 

 above, yellowish in front of the head and round the eye, top of head 

 somewhat darker; quills brown with pale edgings, secondaries 

 brown on the inner, greenish on the outer webs, the latter color 



* Journ. Asiat. Soo. Bengal, Vol. XI, p. 795. 



41 



